HPU's newest fine dining

        High Point University prides itself on its three fine dining restaurants, but it is Kazuko, a hibachi restaurant, and the newest edition to the fine dining lineup that comes out on top. 

Before you walk in, the hallway outside the doors is decorated with Japanese artwork and traditional clothing. Once you step inside the restaurant, there are countless more Japanese artworks, calligraphy and artifacts lining the walls. 

With about eight sets of tables with 10 seats each, the restaurant can feed the most people in the set of fine dining options, and they do. Each time I’ve been to Kazuko, tables are never empty for more than five minutes. 

The food options are what you would expect from a hibachi restaurant, a salad and soup for appetizer, choosing between chicken broth and miso soup. Then moving to the entree of two of chicken, steak, shrimp, fish or vegetables. 

With a range of chefs, your experience can vary, although, most of the chefs I’ve had all toss pieces of zucchini in the air to catch, create the “onion volcano” to be lit on fire and create the iconic plume of fire on the grill. But, they all are cheerful and interactive no matter the chef. 

A common critique of the fine dining restaurants on campus is the amount of food per portion, and Kazuko has fixed that. With each customer receiving rice, vegetables and the two entrees you’ll be almost, if not, full by the time dessert is served, with the option to get more from any extra left on the grill after each item is served. In my group, three people needed boxes for their food, while myself and another of my friends were able to clean our plates. 

If you left room for dessert, there are three options, all tasty. While I prefer the chocolate lava cake with a warm, molten center, there is a three flavor sorbet and fried banana cheesecake rolls.